Toy or the like.



J. C. DETTRA.

TOY OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6,1915.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6. 1915.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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JOHN G. DETTBA, or OAKS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN C. DETTRA & COMPANY,

INC., OF OAKS, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TOY on. THE LIKE;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 211, 1916.

Application filed October- 6, 1915. Serial No. 54,311.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN C. Dn'rrnma citizen of the United States, and a resident of 'Oaks, county of Montgomery, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Toy or the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a toy or the like, preferably formed to substantially resemble a piece of ordnance, which shall be capable of automatically discharging a plurality of projectiles in rapid succession; and to provide a toy of this character which shall be attractive in appearance, which may be manufactured and sold at a low price, and which shall be devoid of intricate and complicated parts, which when in operation might be liable to get out of order or become damaged by rough usage.

My invention further includes all of the other various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 being a top plan view thereof; Fig. 2 a side elevation-with certain portions broken away for the sake of clearness; Fig. 3 a vertical longitudinal section, and Figs. Lil-11d. 5 fragmentary vertical longitudinal sections illustrating the operation of certain parts of the device. In Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, a slightly modified form of the invention is shown, said figures corresponding respectively to the "iews of the preferred embodiment heretofore more specifically described.

Referring now moreespecially to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the same may comprise a plurality of similar barrels 1, each". preferably formed to substantially imitate the barrel of a cannon, and each being provided with a suitable longitudinal bore 3 preferably extending through its entire length. Superimposed vertically over the barrels and maintained in rigid relation therewith are shorter barrels or magazines 5-and- 6, each having a suitable longitudinally extending bore 7 of substantially the same diameter as bore 3, one or more magazines being provided for each barrel employed in the device. In that form of the invention shown cdmprising in Figs; 1 to 5 inclusive each barrel is provided w1th two superimposed magazines, but any number of magazines may be utilized as desired. The magazines and barrels are fixedly positioned with relation .to each other by any suitable means, those shown 1n the drawing comprising cross pieces or tie bars 10 and 11 suitably mortised into the walls of the barrels and magazines, and extending transversely with respect to their longitudinal axes, the bars being secured in position by a suitable adhesive or otherwise. If desired, however, any other suitable means may be utilized for securing the magazines and barrels together, said means preferably being such as to also maintam eachbarrel and its respective magazine or magazmes in fixed relation with its adjacent barrel and its magazines, so that all of the barrels and magazines when assembled shall form a substantially unitary structure. A

The barrels and their respective magazines may preferably be mounted on a suitable carriage, that shown in the drawing a bottom 12, and side pieces 13 and 14 extending vertically upward therefrom and secured in fixed relation therewith by any suitable means, thus forming a sort of trough preferably just wide enough to snugly accommodate the rear ends of the barrels and a portion of the lower magazines 5 when assembled and secured together as hereinbefore described. Adjacent the forward end of the carriage a suitable block 16 is secured upon the upper surface of the bottom 12 between the side pieces 13 and i l to form a rest or support for the rear ends of the barrels, the uppersurface of the blockbeing preferably inclined, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so that when the barrels are resting thereon the forward ends or muzzles thereof will be permanently directed upwardly at a suitable angle. The barrels may be secured between the side pieces 13 and 14 and in fixed relation with the carriage by any suitable means, that shown in the drawing comprising a pair of pins 18 extending transversely through the side pieces and into the walls of the lower magazines, and, if desired, the forward end .of the carriage may be mounted upon a pair of suitable wheels 20, pins 21 passing, through the wheels and into the block 16 forming axles for the former upon which they may rotate to enable the carriage to be drawn over the surface upon which the wheels rest. If desired, a small post 22 may be provided adjacent the rear end of the carriage extending vertically upward from the bottom thereof to more graphically enhance the resemblance of the device to a piece of ordnance.

Each magazine is closed at its rear end and adapted to contain within its bore 7 a plurality of projectiles 25, which, in practice, may consist of suitable wooden balls or the like, of a diameter slightly less than the diameters of the bores 3 and 7, so that the projectiles will loosely fit within both the magazines and the barrels, and for the purpose of permitting the projectiles to consecutively pass from the magazines to the interior of the barrel on which such magazines are respectively imposed and prior to their being discharged therefrom as hereinafter described, a passage 27 of a diameter equal to that of the bore extends downwardly from adjacent the rear ends of the bores of the magazines to the bore 3 in the subjacent barrel. 4

Suitable means are provided for the purpose of discharging projectiles alternately from the barrels when a pair of barrels are employed, or in consecutive rotation from the several barrels when more than two are.

utilized, such means comprising a suitable spring actuated plunger disposed in each barrel, and suitable plunger actuating means operating in conjunction with the plungers as hereinafter described.

More particularly and considering for the moment but a single barrel, for example,

the barrel nearest the observer when the device is in the positions shown in the drawings, a plunger 30 preferably formed of flat steel or other suitable material is disposed in the rear end of the barrel substantially longitudinally thereof, and is provided at its forward end with a turned-over portion forming a head 31. A suitable block 33 is fixedly disposed in the bore 3 adjacent the rear end of the barrel and maintained there-- in by any suitable means, as, for instance, a pin 34 extending through the block and the walls of the barrel, the upper side of the block being cut away to provide a passage 35 through which the body of the plunger may freely extend. A suitable coil spring 36 is disposedaround the plunger within the barrel between the head 31 and the forward end of the block 33 against which the spring may be compressed by the retraction of the plunger through the passage 35. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the material forming the plunger.

adjacent the rear end thereof is directed upward substantially normal to the axis of the body of the plunger, as at 37 and at a point 38 again directed substantially longitudinally as at 39, thus forming a sort of hook for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The length of the plunger is such that when the spring 36 is expanded and the at 41 and 42, a portion of the crank being extended outside of the side piece 13, then directed substantially parallel therewith for a' suitable distance, and then turned outwardly to form a handle 44, whereby the crank may be conveniently manually rotated. When a pair of barrels are employed in the device, as illustrated in the. drawing, the crank may be formed with a double throw, as best shown in Fig. 1, the crank pins 45 and 46 being arranged to alternately engage portions 37 of the plungers 30 in the respective barrels as the crank is rotated, which operation serves to retract the plum gers alternately rearwardly from the position shown in F ig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, when the crank is rotated in the direction of the arrows. Of course if a greater number of barrels than two are emmay be briefly described as follows: The

plungers 30 being in their normal or forward position a plurality of projectiles 25 1 are introduced into the muzzles of the magazine or magazines. The first projectile so introduced will roll toward the rear of the magazine owing to its inclination and pass from the bore 7 into the passage 27, and thence downwardly to the mouth thereof, from whence, however, it is prevented from passing into the bore 3 of the subjacent barrel by its' contact with spring 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The next projectile introduced intothe muzzle of the magazine until both magazines are completely filled' will come to 'rest. upon the first projectile I with projectiles, as shown in Fig. 2. It

will be understood that in loading the magazines it is generally customary to fill the lower magazine first, and thereafter the magazine or magazines imposed thereon, although it is really immaterial whetherthe upper magazines are first loaded and then the lower, as in either case the projectiles will assume substantially the position shown in Fig. 2, and, of course, a lesser number of projectiles than would be necessary to en tirely fill all the magazines may be utilized if desired. It will also be understood that preferably projectiles are placed in the magazines over all of the several barrels before the discharge of the projectiles is begun, but, of course, if desired, only a single set of the magazines may be loaded. Presuming, however, thatall of the magazines have been filled, as heretofore described, if the crank 40 be now rotated in the direction. of the arrows, the crank pin 45, for example, will engage the plunger 30, with which it is in longitudinal alinement, as shown in Fig. 2, and the further rotation of the crank will serve to retractthe plunger to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus compressing the spring 36 sufliciently to open the mouth of passage 27 and permit the lowermost projectile to pass into the barrel in front of the head 31. Still further rotation of the crank thereafter causes the crank pin to traverse the surface of the portion 37 of the plunger t assume the position shown in Fig. 4, after which a very slight further rotation of the crank will cause the crank pin to pass the point 38, and thus release the plunger, which under the action of the compressed spring 36 is carried forward, as shown in Fig. 5 to forcibly discharge the projectile from the barrel.

It will be evident that a continued rotation of the crank will cause a similar operation to take place when 'the crank pin 46 engages its respective plunger 30 in the adjacent barrel, and that a continuous rotation will thus result in the consecutive retraction and release of the plungers in the several barrels as the respective crank pins engage the plungers therein, resulting in the consecutive discharge of the projectiles from the barrels of the device until all of the projectiles in the magazines have been fired. In practice it is found that the projectiles in the upper magazine are generally exhausted before the projectiles are drawn from the lower magazine, but it is, of course, immaterial from which magazine the supply of projectiles is first exhausted. Furthermore, as in practice and with the parts properly adjusted the crank may be rotated with considerable speed, it will be evident that a substantially continuous stream of projectiles may be discharged from the de; vice, the duration of the discharge depending solely upon the number of projectiles which have been placed in the magazines prior to the operation of the crank.

In Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive is shown a slightly modified form of the invention com- 3 prising a slightly different form of plunger releasing means, the-device being furthermore illustrated with but a single instead of a plurality of magazines superimposed on each barrel. In this form of the invention the barrels and carriage may be constructed substantially similar to the barrels and carriage in that form of the device previously described, and each magazine may be secured to its respective barrel by a. cross bar 10, and the barrels and magazines rigidly positioned on the carriage as in the preferred embodiment of the invention. The arrangement of the passage 27 through which the projectiles canpass into the barrel, and of the plunger 30 and coil spring 36, may also be in all respects similar to the corresponding partsillustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, but the rear end of-the plunger instead of being bent in the manner hereinbefore described may preferably be directed upwardly as at 60, so as to form a slightly acute angle with the body of the plunger to a point 62, and thence curved rearwardly and down- Wardly on substantially the arc of a circle as at 63, and terminated at point 64. In

this form of the device for the purpose of positively releasing the plungers after they have been retracted by the operation of the crank to substantially the limit of their rearward travel, a transverse bar is disposed between side pieces 13 and 14 of the carriage in such position that the lower part of the portion 63 of the ends of any of the plungers will engage the bar when the plunger is retracted, as shown in Fig. 8. As the crank is continued in its rotative'movement in the direction shown by the arrow, the retracted plunger will be depressed, the surface of portion (33 traveling beneath the bar 70, and the crank pin relatively rising along the surface of portion 60 until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 9, when a slight further rotative movement of the crank will cause the crank pin to pass the point 62 and thus release the plunger,'which under the action of the compressed spring 36 is carried forward, as shown in Fig. 10, to discharge the projectile in the manner hereinbefore described.

It will be evident that the continuous rotation of the crank 40 will result in the con secutive retraction of the plungers in the several barrels as the respective crank pins engage portions 60 of the plungers, and that the retracted plungers will be thereafter released through the engagement of portion. 63 with the bar 70, as hereinbefore described, resulting in the consecutive discharge of the projectiles from the several barrels as in the form of the invention illustrated in;!Figs. l to 5 inclusive.

While I have designated the invention herein as a toy, and while it is my present intention to utilize the device more especially as such, it will be evident that with the apparatus constructed upon a larger scale it might readily be employed for the discharge of a substantially continuous stream of heavier projectiles, such as small bombs and the like in active warfare, or for other purposes. Furthermore, while I have herein illustrated and described certain embodiments of my invention in considerable detail, I do not thereby intend to limit myself to those precise forms of the device, as it will be evident that suitable changes may be made both in the forms thereof and in the design and operation of the actuating mechanisms, and that a greater or less number of barrels may be utilized, the crank being suitably modified for this purpose and pro.- vided with a suitable number of crank pins, and that the number of magazines employed in connection with each barrel may be varied as desired, and that the releasing means described in connection with either form of the invention may be utilized in connection with the other form, and that other suitable changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A toy or the like, comprising a pair of barrels, a separate magazine superimposed on each barrel and communicating with the interior thereof, a spring actuated plunger in each barrel, and means comprising .a crank having a double throw operative to alternately actuate said plungers in said barrels to discharge'projectiles therefrom as supplied from said magazines.

2. A toy or the like, comprising a pair of laterally disposed barrels, a separate magazine superimposed on each barrel, a passage from each magazine to its respective barrel, a coil spring in each barrel normally closing said passage, a plunger in each barrel extending rearwardly therefrom, a carriage, a

crank having a double throw mounted on said carriage and operative to alternately engage the rear ends of said plungers, and

, means to release said plimgers when retracted by the operation of said crank.

3. A toy or the like, comprising a plurality of barrels, a magazine superimposed 5 on each barrel, a carriage, means to secure said barrels and magazines in fixed relation therewith, a spring actuated plunger in each barrel having a hook-shaped end exterior of said barrel, a crank operative to alternately engage the ends of said plungers, and a bar secured to said carriage and operative to engage the hooked ends of said plungers when retracted by the operation of said crank.

4. A toy or the like, comprising a plurality of laterally disposed barrels, a separate magazine superimposed on each barrel, a carriage, means to maintain said barrels and magazines in fixed angular relation with said carriage, means operative to permit the transfer of a projectile from the magazines to their respective barrels, a spring actuated plunger in each barrel, manually operative means operative to retract said plungers, and a transversely extending bar operative to release said plungers from said first mentioned means at the extremity of their re tractive movement. 7

5. A toy or the like, comprising a pair of laterally disposed barrels, a carriage, a magazine superimposed on each barrel, a passage extending from the interior of each magazine to the interior of its respective barrel, a coil spring disposed entirely within each barrel and normally closing said passage, a plunger in each barrel extending through 'said spring and having a head within the barrel and ahook-shaped end without the barrel, a crank journaled in u said carriage and having a plurality of crank pins operative to alternately retract said plungers, and a transversely extending bar fixed with respect to said carriage operative to release said plungers when prising a crank operative to retract said plunger and compress said spring to open the mouth of said passage, and a transversely extending bar operative to automatically release said plunger at the extremity of its retractive movement.

7. A toy or the like comprising a plurality of barrels, a carriage, a separate magazine disposed above each barrel, and having a passage leading to the interior thereof, a spring concealed in each barrel normally operative to close said passage, plungers operative to compress said springs, and means comprising a crank journaled in said carriage operative to consecutively retract said plungers to compress said springs and open said passages.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of Septemben A. D. 1915.

JOHN c. DETTRA. 

